In Your Own Backyard

Summer serves up classical music across the country.

SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA (Charleston, SC) was founded in 1977 by Italian composer Gian Carlo Menotti, Christopher Keene and others who sought to create an American counterpart to the annual Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy. Looking for a city that would match the charm of Spoleto as well as its wealth of theaters, churches and other performance spaces, they selected Charleston: intimate enough that the festival would captivate the entire city, yet cosmopolitan enough to provide an enthusiastic audience and robust infrastructure. Each year Spoleto Festival USA produces its own operas, including rarely performed masterpieces by well-known composers or traditional works presented in new ways, as well as theater, dance and music ranging from classical to jazz. Spoleto Festival USA, America’s premier performing arts festival, takes center stage May 28 to June 13 in Charleston, South Carolina. This year’s festival features more than 140 performances of opera, theater, dance and music from around the world. Highlights include the American premiere of Wolfgang Rihm’s new opera, Proserpina; the Bank of America Chamber Music series featuring violinist Geoff Nuttall and soprano Dawn Upshaw; and traditional string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops.
May 28-June 13spoletousa.org
Tickets: 843.579.3100

VICTORIA BACH FESTIVAL (Victoria, TX) led by Grammy-nominated conductor Craig Hella Johnson and members Joey Martin and Michelle Schumann, celebrates the work of composers spanning the ages. Orchestral, choral, and chamber works are performed by local and nationally acclaimed artists in various venues in Victoria and the surrounding South Texas area.
June 6-12victoriabachfestival.org
Tickets: 361.570.5788

MOAB MUSIC FESTIVAL (Moab, UT) brings world-class musicians to stunning red rock venues around Moab for a feast of chamber music, jazz, and traditional music concerts featuring music from around the globe. Music Director Michael Barrett has created Masterpieces in the Red Rocks, a retrospective featuring Composers-in-Residence which have made MMF such a vital and exciting destination. Three of those composers, Paquito D' Rivera, John Musto and Kenji Bunch will appear at the Festival as performers.
September 2-13moabmusicfest.org
Tickets: 435.259.7003

DEER VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL (Salt Lake City, UT) is Utah Symphony and Utah Opera's summer home in the mountain resort town of Park City, Utah. In its seventh season, chamber music, classical, opera, and pops are offered in four venues: the Deer Valley Snow Park Amphitheater, St. Mary's Church, Temple Har Shalom, and salons in private homes.
July 21-August 14deervalleymusicfestival.org
Tickets: 801.533.6683

SHENANDOAH VALLEY BACH FESTIVAL (Harrisonburg, VA) is devoted to promoting an appreciation and understanding of the music of Bach and a featured composer, country, era or people. The festival takes place on the campus of Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
June 13-20emu.edu/bach
Tickets: 540.432.4582

WOLF TRAP (Vienna, VA) is the starting point for The National Symphony Orchestra's Summer series. As America's National Park for the Performing Arts, Wolf Trap plays a valuable leadership role in both the local and national performing arts communities. Through a wide range of artistic and education programs, Wolf Trap enhances our nation's cultural life and ensures that the arts remain accessible and affordable to the broadest possible audience.
July 16-August 7wolftrap.org
Tickets: 877.965.3872

VERMONT MOZART FESTIVAL (Burlington, VT) celebrates the 200th birthday of Frederic Chopin, featuring global talents: Gil Shohat, Philippe Entremont, Jean-Francois Latour, Jean-Claude Pennetier and Rieko Aizawa, the composer’s impassioned solo piano and orchestral works to life. The festival takes place in scenic and historic locations around northwestern Vermont and will also present works by Mozart, Beethoven’s Eroica, Vivaldi, Schubert, Gilbert and Sullivan, and Copland.
July 18-August 8vtmozart.org
Tickets: 802.862.7352

MANCHESTER MUSIC FESTIVAL (Manchester, VT) is in its 36th year of bringing the passion and beauty of classical music to southwestern Vermont. The Festival operates year-round and offers classical music performances and music education of the highest caliber.
July 8-August 19mmfvt.org
Tickets: 802.362.1956

MARLBORO MUSIC FESTIVAL (Marlboro, VT) currently under the artistic direction of pianists Richard Goode and Mitsuko Uchida, juxtaposes master artists with exceptional young professional musicians. Since 1951, musicians, staff, their spouses and children share meals, seminars, chores and social events, creating a musical community. Marlboro presents a portion of its musical collaborations at weekend concerts. Audiences can hear young artists play chamber masterworks and unfamiliar pieces alike.
July 17-August 15marlboromusic.org
Tickets: 215.569.4690

BELLINGHAM FESTIVAL OF MUSIC (Bellingham, WA) is comprised of principal players from major American and European orchestras and exceptional musicians from other local, regional and national ensembles. These talented artists will present chamber music and perform as soloists with the orchestra during the Festival.
July 1-18bellinghamfestival.org
Tickets: 360.650.6146

OLYMPIC MUSIC FESTIVAL (Quilcene, WA) invites music lovers for a 27th season at a turn-of-the-century dairy farm nestled on 55 acres of tranquil farmland on Washington's beautiful Olympic Peninsula to enjoy the sounds of exquisite chamber music floating in the air. Inside the beautiful barn, world-renowned musicians, casually clad, enthrall Northwest natives and visitors with outstanding music from the most-beloved classical composers.
July 3-August 22olympicmusicfestival.org
Tickets: 360.732.4800